SDA Sabbath School Lessons
Wednesday July 10, 1996

Righteousness Bestowed
(John 3:3-8)

In what terms did Jesus explain the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in the life
of the believer? John 3:3-8.

As birth is the beginning of life, so rebirth is the beginning of a new life
with Christ. Jesus shattered the Pharisee's illusion of personal holiness.
Nicodemus needed heart transformation. He needed new life from Christ.

"When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the
life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love,
humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes
the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No
one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from
the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders
itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new
being in the image of God."-The Desire of Ages, p. 173.

What special gift is bestowed upon the believer by the Holy Spirit?
Rom. 3:22-24; 8:9, 10; 10:6-10; Gal. 3:6, 14.

The gift of the "righteousness of God" upon the believer (Rom. 3:22) is the
gift of "grace" (verse 24). Grace is God's loving favor bestowed upon the
unworthy. But it is more. Paul speaks of the "grace of God which was given
you in Christ Jesus" (I Cor. 1:4, RSV) as the source of enrichment in "all
speech and all knowledge" (verse 5). The result of receiving God's grace is
that "you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the
revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 7). Both the individual and the
church are enriched by grace.

This gift, righteousness (grace), is bestowed upon the heart of the believer
by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9, 1 0). Romans 10:10 translates literally: "For
with the heart one believes unto righteousness." As Abraham believed and
received the gift of righteousness (Gal. 3:6), so we receive the same gift
today by the bestowal of the Holy Spirit. We receive "the blessing of
Abraham" (righteousness) , "the promise of the Spirit through faith"
(Gal. 3:14, RSV).

"In order to meet the requirements of the law, our faith must grasp the
righteousness of Christ, accepting it as our righteousness. Through union
with Christ, through acceptance of His righteousness by faith, we may be
qualified to work the works of God, to be colaborers with Christ." Selected
Messages, book 1, p. 374.